Professor Paul Heath – SGREC Chair from March 2019 to Present – Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases [I&I]
Professor Paul Heath, Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St George’s University of London & St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, London. His training in paediatrics and infectious diseases was at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and St George’s Hospital, London. His particular research interests are in the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, in clinical vaccine trials, particularly in at-risk groups and in perinatal infections. He coordinates a European neonatal infection surveillance network (neonIN) and the UK Paediatric Vaccine Group (UKPVG), and other recent work includes national surveillance on neonatal meningitis, neonatal GBS and Listeria infections, maternal immunisation trials and studies of different vaccine schedules in preterm infants. He sits on national UK committees concerned with meningitis, Group B streptococcus prevention and on immunisation policies in children.
He is Chair of the Research Committee of the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Associate Chief Editor of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal and Clinical Lead for Children’s research for the South London Clinical Research Network.
Dr Paris Ataliotis – SGREC Deputy Chair from April 2020 to present - Senior Lecturer in Development Genetics [IMBE]
Dr Ataliotis is involved in general and specialised teaching to undergraduate students on the Biomedical Science BSc, as well as course organisation and assessment. He also teaches and supervises postgraduate research students at Master's and PhD levels. He has worked previously as a Senior Research Fellow in Professor Peter Scambler's group at the Institute of Child Health. This group was instrumental in identifying the genetic cause of 22q11DS and exploring the contribution of individual genes to this disorder, using mouse, chick and frog model systems.
Dr Ataliotis completed his PhD at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and University College London, where, with colleagues from the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), he helped to develop Immortomouse. This genetically modified mouse permits the isolation of immortal cell lines (cells that continue dividing indefinitely) from a variety of embryonic and adult tissues.
Dr Ataliotis's PhD was preceded by 3 years at the National Institute for Medical Research as a Research Officer, studying desmosome cell junctions with Professor Tony Magee, and prior to this a BSc in Biochemistry at Manchester University.
Dr Bridget Bax – Reader in Rare Diseases [MCS]
Dr Bridget Bax graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from Royal Holloway, University of London before joining the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of London as a Research Biochemist. She then joined the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, University of London as a Research Assistant and obtained her Ph.D. in Medicine. After a postdoctoral position at St George's, University of London, she was appointed Senior Research Fellow in 2002. She is currently a Reader in Rare Disease at St. George’s, University of London and Deputy Head of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie rare diseases and developing cell-based therapies for their treatment. Dr Bax also serves as a visiting professor in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing at London Metropolitan University, London.
Professor Philip Cooper - Professor of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases [I&I]
He studied medicine at St George's, qualifying in 1988. He obtained a PhD in Parasite Immunology at the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, supported by a Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellowship. Professor Cooper then moved to the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health as a Fogarty International Fellow where he studied helminth immunology. He returned to St George's in 2000 as a Lecturer in Infection and Immunity to study the interaction between parasite infections and allergy, work supported by the Wellcome Trust.
In 2010 Professor Cooper moved to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to take up a chair in Parasitology. He returned to St George's in 2013 to take up a chair in the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases.
Dr Michael Perkin – Reader in Clinical Epidemiology and Consultant in Paediatric Allergy [PH]
Dr Perkin is a Senior Lecturer and Consultant in Paedicatric Allergy at St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For 8 years he ran the FSA/MRA funded EAT (Enquiring About Tolerance) Study, the results of which were published in March 2016 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Michael trained at St. George's Hospital and then undertook clinical allergy training at St. Mary's and Southampton Hospitals. He held a Wellcome Fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology under Professor David Strachan. His PhD was on the relationships between atopy and the farming environment in children. His research interests are the epidemiology of allergic disease, the prevention of food allergy and the environmental contribution to the allergy epidemic.
Dr Christopher Carroll - Lecturer in Human Genetics (MCS)
Dr Christopher Carroll is a Lecturer in Human Genetics at St. George’s, University of London. His research focuses on understanding the genetic causes of rare inherited neurological and metabolic diseases, with focus on mitochondrial disorders. He completed a PhD in Molecular Medicine at the Institute of Child Health, University College London, followed by an Academy of Finland post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Helsinki where he investigated the molecular mechanisms of inherited mitochondrial diseases. He teaches on undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and supervises students undertaking their research projects in his group.
Georgia Bullock - Research Development & Governance Manager [JRES]
Georgia has a background in nursing and has worked in clinical research for around 20 years. She is currently the Research Development and Governance Manager at St George’s and is mainly responsible for the set-up and oversight of interventional clinical trials led by St George’s.
Chantelle Simpson – SGREC Secretary from August 2022 to Present, Research Ethics and Integrity Officer [JRES]
Chantelle has worked in a number of research roles in the last 10+ years across a number of trusts, these roles have varied from working within the research study team to being apart of R&D. Chantelle has worked in Data Management roles as well as Co-ordinator roles and was previously the Clinical Research Auditor here at St Georges. Chantelle manages the SGUL REC inbox and reviews the Ethics applications that come through. Chantelle also runs training sessions and educates staff and students on Research Ethics and Integrity.
Ella Whittle – Phd Student Representative
Ella is a second year PhD research student at St George’s, University of London. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Liverpool before specialising in human molecular genetics through her Master’s degree at Imperial College London. She is now funded by the Medical Research Council on a London Intercollegiate Doctoral Training Partnership studentship award. Ella’s research interest concerns the genetic basis of neurological disease. She analyses genetic data from individuals with neurological disease and works in the laboratory experimentally validating novel disease genes. Research ethics are an important aspect of Ella’s research and she believes that excellent ethical practice is essential for high quality and positive research outcomes.
Gill Mein - Senior Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing
She has been Faculty Research Ethics Lead for five years. She has seen the ethics committee develop from a traditional in person committee to an online committee where she oversaw all the applications from staff and students in the Faculty before sending them out for a second review and decisions.
She is also currently involved in two research projects collaborating with colleagues at SGUL, and external collaborators.
Her teaching includes BSc and MSc students of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nurses and midwives in the joint Faculty. She is a module lead for the Data Analysis module in the CPF programme at SGUL. She teaches mainly research methods, but also, health promotion, social inequalities in health, and managing dementia.
She has loved her time as faculty Ethics lead, she felt it kept her updated with current research projects, and helped her identify the future teaching students need.
Dr Kate Everett is a Reader in Human Genetics with a particular interest in epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders. She has a busy educational portfolio teaching across many SGUL undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Dr Everett supervises BSc and MSc project students, hoping to bring the world of modern genomics alive for them, through active "gene-hunting". She is currently the Deputy head of the Graduate School with oversight for all postgraduate taught programmes.
Prior to joining SGUL in 2010, Dr Everett was based at the Institute of Child Health, University College London, and before that had completed her MPhil and PhD at Cambridge University. She also has PGDip in the Ethics of Medical Research and Biotechnology.
Dani is a first year Physiotherapy student at St. George’s University of London and soon to be Certified Integrated Healing Modalities Practitioner. Her passions lie in healthcare, promoting human rights and holistic wellbeing. Previous work spans from acting as Senior Campaign Leader in Human Rights at Amnesty International, Clinical Operations Consultant for EU Pharma and Biotech market to Physiotherapy Assistant in the Acute Medical Department at Lewisham NHS Trust. Through her varied experience Dani has developed a keen interest in research integrity and ethics, especially in the context of small clinical trials.
Clare currently works as a Clinical Research Associate in infectious disease trials at St George’s University. She completed a Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of New South Wales before completing a Masters in Pharmacy at the University of Technology, Sydney. She has worked at various hospitals in Australia as a registered Pharmacist before moving to London.
Lay Members
Nahiedh Khan - Legal adviser at UK Ministry of Justice and Lawyer
Solicitor PQE of 9 years. I specialise in Criminal law, Extradition law & Confiscation law. I practice & advice in the magisterial court system. Dealing with petty criminals to sophiscated crime work, which can have an element of enforcement work to it.
Sue Alexander - Home Maker
Sue has much experience volunteering. Such experience include; Westmidlands probation service, Narco (Birmingham), Citzen's Advice Bureau, Scope (working for the disabled charity), The Mix (Working with troubled children). Sue can offer a great insight into everyday life problems but in addition to working closely with people with disabilities and troubled children - she is able to offer advice on those issues.
Dr Victor Paul Olisa - QPM
Victor served as a police officer for 35 years. He joined Surrey Police in 1982 straight from university.
He transferred to City of London Police in 1990 and worked in various roles, including the Fraud Squad as Detective Inspector. In 2003 he was seconded to the Home Office to work on Stop and Search, which involved advising Ministers on policy and chief police officers on good practice. In 2005 he was awarded a PhD in Criminology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He transferred on promotion to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 2006 and in 2012 was promoted to Chief Superintendent and worked in Bexley and Haringey as Borough Commander. In 2016 he headed the MPS Diversity and Inclusion Unit. In 2017, he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished police service. After retirement in 2017 he worked as a Visiting Fellow at LSE. He is a visiting lecturer at Universities of Portsmouth, Liverpool John Moores and West London. He joined the Board of Governors at NACRO in May 2020.
Damion has worked in the NHS for over 25 years, initially qualifying as a Radiographer before undertaking postgraduate education in Nuclear Medicine. He is currently working as the Education, Workforce and Professional Development Lead in Nuclear Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. His role involves promoting and supporting the education and training of the multi-disciplinary Nuclear Medicine workforce at a local and national level, in addition to research and audit. Damion completed his Master of Research degree at SGUL and has an interest in professional identity.
Previous Committee Members
- Sandra Ashton – Chair (July 2017 - 2019) Research Technician, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute
- Rachel Allen – Deputy Chair Reader in Immunology of Infection and Head of the Graduate School
- Carole Beighton – External Lay Member
- Zoe Ilivitsky – Student Representative
- Dr Thushari Welikala – Lecturer in Higher Education, King's Learning Institute, King's College London.
- Dr Penny Lympany – Senior Laboratory Manager, St. George's, University of London
- Debbie Rolfe – Former Regulatory Assurance Manager, Joint Research and Enterprise Services
- Subhir Bedi – Head of Research Governance and Delivery, JRES
- Ali Alshukry – Research Governance and Delivery Manager
- Nabilla Waise – Research Ethics Coordinator / SGREC Secretary [JRES]
- Dr Saranne Weller – Reader in Higher Education Practice and Development
- Harley Manning – Lay Member
- Dr Sarah Jane White - Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics [PH]
- Peter R Brown - BVetMed BA (Hons) MSc (VetGP) MRCVS / External Lay Member
- Suzie McCluney – External / Lay member
- John Ward - Student Representative
- May Al-Shawk - Student Representative
- Dr Malou van Zanten - SGUL Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Senior Research Practitioner
- Miguel Sequeira Campos - Surgical Academic Foundation Doctor, St George`s NHS Trust
- Elizabeth Stovold - SGUL, Research Data Support Manager
- Faazia Khan - Student Representative
- Elena Svirderskaya - SGUL, Senior Lecturer in Cell and Molecular Biology
- Dr Angelika Kristek - Research Ethics and Integrity Officer
- Dr Irina Chis Ster – Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics [I&I]
- Dr Michelle Harricharan - Research Data Support Manager [Library]
- Alice Reid – Clinical Research Associate [JRES]
- Hannah Johnson - Phd Student Representative